Wire-stretcher.



J. A. STEWART. I

WIRE STRETGHER. APPLICA'IQION FILED SEPT. s, 1910.

Patented Feb.'?, 1911.

JAMES ANDREW STEWART, OF MAI-IOMET, TEXAS.

WIRE-STRETOHER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. STEWART, citizen of the United States, residing at Mahomet, in the county of Burnet and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vim-Stretchers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in wire stretchers.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and practical tool whereby a wire, or a wire fence may be quickly and easily stretched without danger of injury to the operator.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved wire stretcher showing the same applied to a post for the purpose of stretching the wire, and illustrating in full and dotted lines the manner in which the wire is stretched; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tool.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention I provide a stretching lever 1 having on one end an enlarged head 2 in one side of which is formed a curved recess 3, whereby the same is engaged with a post or other fixed object which serves as a fulcrum when the lever is operated to stretch the wire. On the outer end of the lever 1 is formed a bearing lug 4 on which is pivotally mounted the movable aw or member 5 of a wire clamp or grip 6, the fixed jaw or member 7 of which is formed by the outer end of the head 2 of enlarged end of the lever 1. The coacting surfaces of the pivoted jaw 5 and the fixed jaw 7 of the clamp are preferably serrated or provided with gripping teeth whereby a firm hold may be obtained on the wire. On the engaging edge of the pivoted jaw 5 is formed an over-hanging or outwardly extending guide flange 5 which, when the pivoted jaw 5 is is operative engagement with the fixed jaw 7 will lap over said fixed jaw and thus positively prevent the wire from slipping up and down and out of engagement with the Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed September 8, 1910.

Patented Feb. '7, 1911. Serial No. 580,973.

gripping members. The movable jaw or member 5 of the clamp is eccentricallypivoted on the bearing lug l and said jaw is provided on its outer end with a handle 8 whereby the same may be brought into engagement with the wire.

Pivotally mounted on the stretching lever 1, near the inner end of the enlarged portion or head 2 thereof is an anchoring lever 9 which is preferably of curved or angular formation as shown. On the inner end of the lever 9 is formed an inwardly curved or hook shaped anchoring spur 10, which is preferably bifurcated or in the form of two teeth which are tapered to a sharp edge or point and are adapted to be forced into the side of the post or object serving as a fulcrum for the stretching lever. In the outer end of the anchoring lever 9 is formed an alligator wrench 11 whereby the device may be employed for turning nuts or other square or tubular objects.

In the inner edge of the lever 1 adjacent to the head :2 thereof is formed one member 12 of a wire cutter, the opposite member 13 of which is formed in the adjacent portion of the anchoring lever 9. The members 12 and 13 when thus arranged are adapted to be brought in cooperative engagement when the levers l and 9 are brought together thus providing an eificient means for cutting wire. The outer end of the lever 1 is tapered or wedge shaped and has formed therein a V-shaped notch 14 whereby said end of the lever forms an efiicient nail and staple extractor. On the upper side of the lever 1 adjacent to its outer end is arranged a hook 15 with which is adapted to be adjustably connected a lever holding chain 16, the opposite end of which is secured in an eye or other suitable fastening means 17 arranged on the lever 9 adjacent to its outer end.

In the operation of the tool for the purpose of stretching a wire the curved inner edge of the head 2 of the stretching lever is engaged with a post or other stationary object which forms a fulcrum for said lever. When thus engaged the end of the wire to be stretched is inserted between the jaws of the wire clamp or grip after which the lever 1 is swung around on the post or object with which the same is engaged thereby stretching and drawing the wire around the post until said wire has been stretched to the desired extent, whereupon the anchoring lever 9 is swung around on the lever l and the spur 10 on the outer end thereof forced into engagement with the post, after which the chain 16 is engaged with the hook 15 thereby holding the anchoring lever in engagement with the post and thus securely fastening the stretching lever against retrograde movement and permitting the wire to be readily stapled or otherwise secured to the post.

While the invention is herein shown and particularly described as a wire stretcher, it is obvious that the same may be employed for stretching wire fences and similar objects by providing the same with suitable clamping devices whereby the stretcher may be connected thereto for the purpose of uniformly or equally stretching the same.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention,what t I l j I claim is:

In a wire stretcher, the combination of a stretching lever having a fulcrum seat in one edge between its ends and provided on its upper side with a shoulder adjacent one end, a wire clamping jaw pivoted eccentrically on the shorter end of the lever to coact with said shoulder and having a lip adapted to overhang the same, an, anchoring lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the longer end of the stretching lever adjacent the fulcrum seat therein and adapted to pass around the fulcrum, the inner end of said clamping lever being provided with an inwardly projecting spur to engage the fulcrum and retain the stretching lever in adjusted position, and a connection between the other end of the anchoring lever and the long end of the stretching lever to retain the levers in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J AMES ANDREW STENI'XRT.

\Vitnesses T. H. Gmnm, J. H. REAVIS. 

